Mary Ruth Toth

Mary Ruth Toth, 87, was born on February 6, 1934, in a small house in Lowry City, Missouri to Laura & James Irvin. Two younger sisters, Shirley Ann (Overland Park, Kansas) and Jacqueline (Sunrise, Missouri) soon followed within two years.

Mary was raised on a family dairy farm in Tiffin, Missouri and at WWII's end, moved along with her mother and sisters to El Dorado Springs, Missouri where she attended and graduated high school.

An avid athlete, Mary followed her mother to North Kansas City, Missouri where she played women's basketball in the early 1950s for the Kansas City Dons and Kansas City Jerries.

While also working for Ford Aircraft in Kansas City, Mary met her future husband James Toth. Jim, a pilot, took Mary for a ride in his Navion plane over Kansas City to watch from above the fireworks on the 4th of July.

Mary and Jim married on August 21, 1955 and were blessed with the birth of Charles in 1958 and Mark in 1963.

During the early years of their marriage, Mary & Jim lived and worked in many places. Abilene, Wichita, Fort Worth, and San Diego before Jim accepted a position that would last for 30 years with McDonnell Douglas (starting in the Mercury & Gemini space capsules and ending on the Harrier jump jet).

It was this move to St. Charles, Missouri that created their lasting spiritual home at St. Charles Christian Church beginning in 1962.

Despite subsequently living in Nagoya, Japan, Augsburg, Germany, Herzlia Pituach, Israel, and Eastrington, England and being actively involved in churches there, Mary & Jim's hearts were never far from their friends and pastors at SCCC.

Their longest lasting friendships all began there as they met and became friends with fellow congregants and worshipers of Christ. Mary's enduring faith in Christ was central to everything she did and accomplished in life. It brought her great joy and indeed she was truly representative of a good and faithful servant by all who knew her.

Indeed, when Mary & Jim retired in 1991, SCCC is why they returned to St. Charles from England to be at one once again with their religious home.

Mary was an elder and a moderator of SCCC upon their retirement.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Jim, mother Laura Pickel, beloved step-father John Pickel, father James Irvin, grandmother Rucynthia Pritchard, grandfather Harry Pritchard, and many other much loved family members and friends.

Mary is survived by her sons Charles & Mark (Brigitta), sisters Ann & Jackie, grandchildren Tiffany Toth, Zacharie Toth, Joshua Toth, Briton Toth, and great-grandson Landon Toth.